The Crimson Sox had been identified to be searching for center infield assist even earlier than information broke earlier this week about Trevor Story’s internal brace surgery on his proper elbow, which might maintain the shortstop on the injured record for many (or doubtlessly all) of the 2023 season. Within the wake of Story’s surgical procedure, two names have surfaced on Boston’s radar, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that the Sox have curiosity in each Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus.
By way of being a substitute for Story at shortstop, Andrus is the cleaner match, because the veteran might merely step proper into an everyday shortstop function. Aside from 25 video games as a DH, Andrus has completely performed shortstop within the different 1914 video games of his 14-year Main League profession. Public defensive metrics are a little bit combined on Andrus’ glovework (+4.7 UZR/150 and +3 Outs Above Common in 2022, countered by a -4 Defensive Runs Saved rating), however all in all, Andrus nonetheless seems like he can present a minimum of acceptable protection even at age 34.
On the plate, Andrus has been inconsistent at finest over his profession, however he did get pleasure from quite a lot of success in a late-season cameo with the White Sox in 2022. Launched by the A’s in August, Chicago signed Andrus as a substitute for the injured Tim Anderson, and Andrus responded with a really strong .271/.309/.464 slash line and 9 residence runs over 191 plate appearances with the Pale Hose. His total 105 wRC+ for the season and his 3.5 fWAR had been Andrus’ highest totals in both class since 2017, and his 17 homers was the second-highest complete of his profession.
Regardless of this good efficiency, there hasn’t been a lot buzz about Andrus on the open market this winter, as groups are maybe extra targeted on Andrus’ age, his capability to copy his 2022 numbers, and his extra unspectacular current monitor document earlier than final season — Andrus accrued a modest 4.3 fWAR mixed from 2018-21. Nonetheless, there was some hypothesis that Andrus’ market wouldn’t actually decide up till the “large 4” free agent shortstops (Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson) had been off the board, and groups nonetheless in want of shortstop assist might flip to Andrus as extra of a stop-gap choice.
The Crimson Sox technically match this description given their lack of Bogaerts, and Boston had shown a minimum of some stage of curiosity in such infield commerce targets as Amed Rosario, Paul DeJong, Joey Wendle, and (earlier than he was dealt from the Marlins to the Dodgers) Miguel Rojas. All of those gamers would’ve been eyed for the shortstop job, because the Sox might’ve then caught to their preliminary plan of utilizing Enrique Hernandez largely in middle discipline, or a minimum of as a participant who could possibly be bounced across the diamond slightly than somebody primarily locked right into a shortstop function.
Profar’s addition would create some lineup shuffling, and certain end in Hernandez getting extra time at quick. Profar hasn’t performed shortstop since 2018, and whereas he was as soon as a multi-position kind, 2022 marked the primary time that Profar performed completely at one place, because the Padres deployed him solely as a left fielder. The newly-signed Masataka Yoshida has already been tabbed for left discipline obligation in Fenway Park, so the Crimson Sox might transfer Profar (who turns 30 in February) round to the opposite outfield positions, or presumably second or first base.
MLBTR projected Profar for a two-year, $20MM deal this winter, and the Yankees and Astros have each proven some curiosity in his providers at varied occasions this winter. Two weeks in the past, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco broke down Profar’s potential market and a few groups that may emerge as suits, although the Crimson Sox weren’t cited as a result of assumption that Yoshida had stuffed the outfield want. After all, accidents can immediately convey new groups into the combination, and Profar’s market might additional increase if groups do see him as a candidate for positions past solely left discipline.
